Draft gear backstop and center filler



July 4, 1944. A. KASSLER DRAFT GEAR BACK STOP AND CENTER FILLER Filed Jan. 8, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR fig/pk Kassie)" kp I ATTORNEY July 4, 1944.

A. KASSLER DRAFT GEAR BACK STOP AND CENTER FILLER Filed Jan. 8, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 \mmm 11111111 1111 IIIIIIIIA 7/ [III IIII ATTORNEY Patented July 4, 1944 BACKSTOP'AND CENTER l ifl-d Adolph Kassler; NewlYork, N. Ya assignon-ito -AmericanOarand FoundryCompany, New

York, Y. a corporation of New Jersey Application January 8, 1942; Serial No. 426,039

7 8Claims. (01. 105-420) This invention relates to railway car un'der frames in general and in particular to'that portion of the underframe immediately adj ace'nt the body center bearings and support. a

The bulk of railway cars have been built in the past years with cast center fillers and draft gear back stops, usually cast in one piece and extremely heavy. With improvements in welding technique in recent years the trend has been toward welded construction, thereby permitting the better distribution of metal and the use of high strength steels, thus effecting a saving both in weight and in cost. It is an object, therefore, of the present invention to provide a built-up draft gear back stop and center filler made of rolled members properly disposed to resist the strains and reduce the weight of the assembly, while increasing the strength thereof.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a fabricated draft gearback stop and center filler in which the back stops are securely anchored by parts of the car underframe.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a fabricated draft gear back stop and center filler having webs spaced from the center sill webs andre'inforced by angular reinforcements welded thereto. M v F These and other objectsof the invention will be apparent to persons skilled in the art from a study of the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially. on the longitudinal centerline oi the underframe;

Fig. 2 is a planview of the improved under frame construction with parts shown in section to better disclose the construction;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 3-30f Fig. 1 and looking toward the back stops;

Fig. 4 is asectional view taken substantially on line 4 4 of Fig. 1 to better disclose the angu-- lar reinforcing means; F M

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 5-5 of Fig. 1; f V

Fig. 6 is asectional view taken substantially on line 66 of Fig. 1 and looking toward the fabricated center filler, and t Fig. '7 is a perspective view of the preassembled combined draft gear back stop and center filler.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that thefabricated draft gear back stop and center filler has been illustrated as applied to an all welded center sill construction, but it is obvious that the fabricated unit may be readily applied with'but veryslight' modification to thevarious conventional center sill sections now used by therailro'ads and approved by the AAR; As shown',-the center sill-is made up of spaced vertically extending web platesZ welded at their top edges to heavy and comparatively wide top cover plates 4 and at their bottom edges to spaced apart flat plates 6 forming thebottom flanges of the center sill. In this manner an extremely strong center sillis obtained which may be easily constructed as a' straight type or a'fish belly type. The upright webs'o'f the center sills run continuous between the" ends'of the car, 'whilethe top "cover plate; as' 'cle'arl'y shown in Figs. 1 and 2 terminates as at 1 outwardly ofthe bolster structure B. Short plates 8 are welded to the upper edge of the center sill webs and to the'ends' of the top cover plates to produce an outwardly flanged section; as clearly shown in Fig; 3. The bottom flange plates Gof the center sills extend continuously from and over substantially the same extent of sillas'do'es the top cover plate. In other words, theselower sill'tlang plates terminate as 'at 'lfl'(Fig; 2)- substanti'ally'in 'alignm'e'ntwith the ends; of the top cover plate; Short plates 112" are welded to the ends 'of the bottom sill flanges and to" thewebs of the sill 'an'dex tend 'outwardly tothe ends :of thec'ar thu's' form ing a continuousbottom flange and'pro'ducin'g a' channel section',{a's more clearly shown in Fig.3." It will, 'ofco'urse', be obvious that thesho'rt plates the 'to'p and bottonrsill plates but such an'arrangement 'would be wasteful of metal'andthe arrangement shown is preferred "'I'hecenter sill webs ar'e stifiened adjacent thedraft gearpocket, as clearly shown'in Fig"; 2, bymeans of'vertic'al plate members"! welded to the topand bottom" flanges and-to'the'websofthe center sills. Any suitable front draft lugs I6 and'striker [8 may beattached to tl ie sill webs; In the pr'esent instance these parts: are formed as drop forgings welded in 'place." The bo'djbolsteis," as clearly shownfare formed. by'web plates 2!! weldedor otherwise secured tothe webs of the 'center'sill flanges and to the bolster'bottomf'cover1plate'22. The bottor'n' cove'r plate has attached thereto the customary center bearing 'plate 24 held in place by rivets or other means 2'5 extendingthrough the bolster coverplate' and through; the flanges or the center $111 flang plates 6. As clearly'shown in Figs. land 2, the center sill lower-"flange plates are" ful1- widthonlyup to' substantiallythe outer edge of the bolster bottom "cover plate,

and a part removed, thus giving a narrow flange for a purpose later to be referred to.

The combined draft gear back stop and center filler unit, shown in perspective by Fig. '7, is formed, as clearly shown in the figures, of two Z section rolled elements having short flanges 30 directed toward each other and longer flanges 32 directed away from each other with the webs 34 located in a vertical position and substantially parallel to each other. Portions of the relatively wide flanges 32 and lower parts of the web are removed as at 35 (Fig. 7), thus giving-a flanged channel section at one end and a straight channel section at the other end of the unit. The webs of the 2 elements forming the unit have welded thereto on the outer sides thereof angles 38. The front ends of these angles are welded to the inner surface of back stop elements 40' which are also welded to the ,webs as at 4| (Figs. 1 and 2.) and to the flange 32, thus the angles 38 securely back up the back stops and form substantially tubular reinforcements preventing buckling of. the webs of theZ elements forming the fabricated unit. The two 2 formed parts of the unit are attached together by means of a transversely extending plate 44- welded to the webs and to the short flanges 30.. This plate, as clearly shown in Figs. 5, 6 and; 7; base notch cut therein to receive a short section of pipe 45- welded to the plate and forming a center pin guide. If the locking type of center pin isused the upper end of the pipe may be spaced slightly from the edge of the plate in order to receive the head of the locking center pin. The unit halves are also additionally joined together by means of a back plate 48 welded to the ends of flanges 30 and webs 34". This plate is cut with an opening 50 in the lower edge thereof for a purpose later to be referred to. As clearly shown in Fig. 7, the front outer corners of the'back stops 40 are beveled as at El. and the back stops extend'upwardly above the planeof the flanges 30 for purposes later to be referred to.

After construction of the unit as-shown in Fig. 7 and after construction of the center sill assembly with the bolster andother parts attached, the fabricated unit-.may beinscrted by bringing it to the line and dash position shown in Fig. 1 then shoved back to the final. position shown by full. linesof this figure. With the unit in the final position it is securely welded inplace by welding the edges of flanges 30 to: the'top cover plate 4*, then the edges of plate 48 are welded. to the center sill webs.- and to thetopcover plate. Weld is also made between the webs 34 of the fabricatedunit' andthe bottom flange plates, such welding being made possible by the opening 59 in plate -48 and by the space existing between the back stops forwardly of the center pin guide. Flanges 32 may then be welded. or riveted in position, it being necessary in the present case to utilize a filler '60 (Fig. 4) located between the flange 32 and the bottom flange plates of the center sill structure. In certain assemblies these fillerplates would not be necessary, their use or nonuse depending upon the depth of the car center sill structure. The back stops are welded to the webs ofthe center sills by placing weld metal inthe beveled corners thus giving. substantially flush surfaces without the necessity for any-machining. Theupper projecting ends of the back stops are in direct abutment with the cut ends of the top cover plate, as clearly shown. in Fig. 2, and if. desired may be welded to this cover plate, such welding depending. upon 5 whether or not the floor plates 65 of the car are applied before or after bringing the unit into position between the center sill webs. It will be seen accordingly that the combined draft gear back stop and center filler may be constructed in halves, then assembled as a unit, with the unit inserted into the preassembled center sills and securely welded in position. Shifting of the back stops is resisted not only by the welding of the unit to the center sills but also by the overlapping and abutment of the stops 4!! with the cut ends of the top cover plate and with the cut ends of the bottom center'sill flange plates 6. These lower center sill flange plates, being narrower at their ends due to the cutout portion, are located outwardly of the web units 34 and in position to abut the stops, as clearly shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4.

While the invention has been described more or less in detail with particular reference to the figures, illustrating one form, it will be obvious that various modifications will be possible and all such modifications are contemplated as fall within the scope of the appended claims defining my invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A. car underframe including a centersill having spaced substantially parallel webs joined together by a top cover plate, laterally spaced bottom flanges secured to-the webs and extending to either side thereof, bolster members secured to the sill inwardly of the ends thereof, draftgear back stopssecured to the sill webs between the bolster and adjacent sill ends, said back stops overlapping and being secured to the ends thereof may rest. upon and be attached to the.

top side of inwardly extending portions of the center sill bottom flanges.

2. A car underframe including a center sill; having spaced substantially parallel webs joined together by a top cover plate, laterally spaced.

bottom flanges secured tothe webs and extending to either side thereof, bolster members secured to the sill inwardly of the ends thereof,v draft gear back stops secured to the sill webs between. the

bolster and adjacent sill. ends, said back stops overlapping and being secured to the ends of cut-out portions of said top cover plate and bottom flanges, back stop bracing means comprising spaced apart Z bars having the top flanges.

directed toward each other and secured to the under side of the center sill top cover plate and with the lower flanges partially underlying the sill bottom flanges, the webs and flanges of the 2 bars being secured to said back stops to brace the same, said 2 bars havin-grear portions of the-bottom flanges removed whereby the webs thereof may rest upon and be attached to the top side.

of inwardly extending portions of the center sill bottom flanges, and a bolster bottom cover plate joining said center sill bottom flanges together thereby preventing spreading of said center sills and back stop bracing means.

3. A car underframe including a center sill having spaced substantially parallel webs joined together by a top cover plate, laterally spaced bottom flanges secured to the webs and extending to either side thereof, draft gear back stops secured to the sill webs and overlapping and being secured to the ends of cut-out portions of said top cover plate and bottom flanges, back stop bracing means secured to the back stops and to the sill top cover plate and bottom flanges, said bracing means being formed by spaced apart Z bars having portions of the lower flanges and webs cut away whereby portions of the webs overlie and are attached to the top side of the sill bottom flanges and the uncut portions of the lower flanges underlie and are attached to the under side of the sill bottom flanges.

4. A car underframe including a center sill having spaced substantially parallel webs joined together by a top cover plate, laterally spaced bottom flanges secured to the webs and extending to either side thereof, draft gear back stops secured to the sill webs and overlapping and being secured to the ends of cut-out portions of said top cover plate and bottom flanges, back stop bracing means secured to the back stops and to the sill top cover plate and bottom flanges, reenforcing angles secured to said back stops and back stop bracing means and cooperating therewith to form tubular reenforcements for the bracing means, said bracing means being formed by spaced apart Z bars having portions of the lower flanges and webs cut away whereby portions of the webs overlie and are attached to the top side of the sill bottom flanges and the uncut portions of the lower flanges underlie and are attached to the under side of the sill bottom flanges.

5. As an article of manufacture a combined draft gear back stop and center filler for car center sills having spaced apart substantially vertical webs, comprising short unsymmetrical 2 bars secured together to form an inverted flanged channel having the 2 bar webs spaced apart a distance substantially less than the spacing between the center sill webs, angle form stiffeners having the legs thereof each secured to the outer sides of the webs of the 2 bars to form therewith tubular reenforcements preventing buckling of the webs, and draft gear back stops overlapping an end of the 2 bar webs and capping the ends of said tubular reenforcements and being secured thereto and to the 2 bar webs and extending laterally of the webs a sufficient distance to contact the inner side of the center sill webs.

6. As an article of manufacture a combined draft gear back stop and center filler for car center sills having spaced apart substantially vertical webs joined by a top cover plate provided with bottom flanges, comprising unsymmetrical Z bars secured together to form an inverted channel having webs spaced apart a distance substantially less than the spacing between the center sill webs, and draft gear back stops overlapping an end of the Z bar webs and flanges and extending laterally of the webs a suflicient distance to contact the inner side of the center sill webs and also extending laterally of the Z bar flanges to overlap portions of the center sill top cover plate and bottom flanges.

7. As an article of manufacture a combined draft gear back stop and center filler for car center sills having spaced apart substantially vertical webs joined by a top cover plate and provided with bottom flanges, comprising unsymmetrical Z bars secured together to form an inverted channel having webs spaced apart a distance substantially less than the spacing between the center sill webs, draft gear back stops overlapping an end of the Z bar webs and flanges and extending laterally of the webs a sufficient distance to contact the inner side of the center sill webs and also extending laterally of the Z bar flanges to overlap portions of the center sill top cover plate and bottom flanges, and angle form stiffeners having the legs thereof each secured to the outer portions of the webs of the Z bars and to the back stops to form therewith capped tubular reenforcements preventing buckling of the web and back stops.

8. As an article of manufacture a combined draft gear back stop and center flller for car center sills having spaced apart substantially vertical webs joined by a top cover plate and provided with bottom flanges, comprising unsymmetrical 2 bars having part of their flanges removed and being secured together to form an inverted channel at one end adapted to rest upon and be secured to the top side of the center sill bottom flanges and forming at the other end an externally flanged inverted channel having the external flanges adapted to underlie the lower surface of the center sill bottom flanges, and draft gear back stops overlapping an end of the Z bar webs and flanges and being secured thereto and extending laterally of the 2 bar webs and adapted to contact the center sill webs and also extending laterally of the Z bar upper flange and adapted to overlap a portion of the center sill top cover plate.

ADOLPH KASSLER. 

